The World's Best Architecture Schools

The World's Best Architecture Universities and Architectural Programs.

Southern California Institute of Architecture, SCI-Arc (Los Angeles, California, USA) - A truly amazing architecture institute that provides a great opportunity to develope yourself as a well rounded architect. SCI-Arc is the leader in sustainable design and one of the best institutes for computational design. Additionally, and perhaps for many students most importantly, it is NAAB accredited which will be a requirement if you want to become a licensed architect in the United States (with some exceptions, California being one of them).

6.

Technical University Delft (Delft, the Netherlands) - is among the very best in the world for both architecture and engineering. With World renowned faculty and several amazing programs to choose from. We have not featured Delft in the past few years after a disaster had struck when a faulty coffee machine caused the school to burn to the ground. The future of the school was uncertain and students were placed in large tents. The Dutch government made it its priority to rebuild as quick as possible, recently completing the new school which is better than ever.

2.

Architectural Association, AA (London, England) - Remains one of our top favorite architecture school in the world as it demonstrates being a world leader in so many fields of architecture. Notably the best architecture firms around the world have a tendency to pick up these students as soon as they are finished. This is eventually one of the most important aspects of choosing a school, one with which will quickly set you up with a good job, therefore being a very good return on investment.

7.

ETH Zurich, DARCH (Zurich, Switzerland) - Is one of the best universities for architecture in Europe. It is notable how many of today's great architects have graduated from this university, including Pritzker Prize winning architects Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron, the very well known Santiago Calatrava, the prominent Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and many more. The down side is that there are limited spaces available and very competitive, so a placement cannot be guaranteed.

3.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT (Massachusetts, USA) - This institute has always been a leader in engineering and today is very involved with all facets of architectural teaching. What is remarkable about MIT is how involved they are with architecture, it is almost impossible to find an aspect of architecture that MIT is not involved with. This will spark your passion as an architect and keep you driven to succeed. Despite the relatively high cost (which unfortunately is very high throughout the United States), we believe it is a great investment.

8.

Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, IaaC (Barcelona, Spain) - Another great architecture institute with a constantly increasing amount of programs including a recently added 'Master in Advanced Interaction' which will be available as of next term. Their Master in Advanced Architecture features, among others, a course in sustainability and self-sufficient design, which can be followed as a one or two year course. This incredible institute is found in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world, the majestic city of Barcelona.

4.

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Copenhagen, Denmark) - Another great University we highly recommend. The Danish have demonstrated a great understanding on 'new' architecture and are becoming the forerunners of the modern world. They teach several programs in English at a cost of €5000 per semester for non-EU students (far less or potentially free with government subsidies for EU students).

9.

The Glasgow School of Art (Glasgow, Scotland) - Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a former student and world renowned architect. This schools is definitely one to look at to further deepen your artistic architecture skills. The GSA is the only independant art school in Schotland and one of very few in the UK. The Glasgow school of art offers various undergraduate and graduate degree studies which are among the worlds finest.

5.

University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan) - The Japanese are leaders in cultural design with a rich heritage in architecture. Not only are they among the world leaders in architectural design but in engineering as well. The University of Tokyo has proven to be among the elite universities in the world and a testimony to that is Tokyo itself, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, is not only a beautiful city but held strong during on of the largest earthquakes in history. University of Tokyo have an impressive list of alumni, including Toyo Ito and Arata Isozaki.

10.

American University of Sharjah - Due to popular vote we have dedicated a place on the top 10 list to the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The students of this university have demonstrated a tremendous amount of enthousiasm in voting for their university. For us this is one of the key factors in choosing a 'best' school, not only the program that it has (which is phenominal at this university, with recognized NAAB accreditation) but also how students react to their education and their level of satisfaction.

*As in previous years our ranking system is based on several factors including job potential / marketability, student satisfaction, cost of attendance as well as subject matter (including sustainable design and generative / algorithmic architecture). This list is based on what the best schools would be for the average student wanting to study architecture and what will give them the best chances at success. You do not need us to tell you how great Harvard, Princeton or Yale are, you also do not need us to tell you that this most likely will not be a realistic choice for most students. What we have provided is a list of universities that far exceed expectations, that will prepare you for the real world and that will not but you deep into debt.

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Africa - Best Architecture Programs

Schools located on the continent of Africa.

Our 'Top 10' Best Architecture Universities / Schools in Africa.

1.

The University of Cape Town, South Africa. Ranked as Africa's top university in several fields including architecture. In addition they offer the widest range of architectural studies with various Bachelor, Master and PhD programs.

6.

University of the free state, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Ranked very high for various programs. an overall great school with several options.

2.

University of Pretoria, South Africa, department of architecture. This is another fantastic university in South Africa offering good quality programs.

7.

University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. An international student hub for higher learning in some of the most stunning natural surroundings makes the University of Kwazulu-Natal a must see in choosing a master degree.

3.

University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The third in a row of outstanding programs offered in South Africa.

8.

Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. A great university with a large student body approximately 200,000. The university offers several degrees ranging from Bachelor to Doctorate degrees.

4.

The American University of Cairo, Egypt. This university is ranked very high among African universities. A great option to study an excellent program yet not far away from Europe in a culturally rich country famous for its ancient architecture.

9.

Alexandria University, Egypt. Another Egyptian university that has established itself as a top university located in Northern Africa.

5.

University of Nairobi, Kenya. The best university in Kenya with a fantastic engineering school. The department for engineering and architecture are well worth looking into if pursuing a career in architecture.

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.

Asia - Best Architecture Programs

Schools located on the continent of Asia.

Our 'Top 10' Best Architecture Universities / Schools in Asia.

1.

(Tokyo, Japan) The Tokyo Institute of Technology. The Japanese are the grand masters of cultural design with a rich heritage in architecture. Today this is often still the case as well as being the leaders of future systems. This university gives you a chance to be a part of it.

6.

The University of Technology Malaysia (Universiti Technologi Malaysia). UTM is perhaps the best university in South East Asia offering great international programs at low cost in a surreal location.

2.

Chinese University of Hong Kong, China. A terrific university offering several international programs at a relatively low cost. China is becoming an increasingly important country for architectural design as they continue to grow exponentially. It is a great time to discover the new possibilities.

7.

The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, India. India has become famous world wide for their incredibly skilled and intelligent doctors and engineers. The favorite among student with bright job prospects is the School of Planning and Architecture.

3.

The University of Tokyo, Japan. Japan in our opinion has nothing but amazing architecture universities. However, this university is among the top, which are simply a slight bit better than the rest.

8.

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Iran has always been an extremely powerful influence on many fields such as mathematics and engineering. Despite the political situation in the country, it still offers some of the best educational programs in the world.

4.

The American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. An excellent accredited architecture program in the middle east, The United Arab Emirates are quickly expanding to becoming a huge architectural wonder. Whatever your opinion is of this the fact remains that their rapid expansion and future visions are impressive.

9.

The Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, offers a great international program in the heart of the amazingly beautiful South Korea.

5.

The Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. A great option if Tokyo is too hectic (and/or expensive) for you as they offer an outstanding program in the beautiful city of Kyoto.

10.

Technion University, Haifa, Israel. Home to several Nobel prize winners in the field of medicine. The Technion architecture department is also well known in Israel for its high standards and great faculty.

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.

Australia - Best Architecture Programs

Schools located on the continent of Australia.

Our 'Top 10' Best Architecture Universities / Schools in Australia.

1.

(Aukland, New Zealand) Unitec is another relatively low profile school which has a great amount to offer. At relatively affordable prices it is worth considering the opportunity to study in New Zealand.

6.

The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Like the other top rated universities in Australia one general theme evolves: great location in the CBD of the city, beautiful campus, good student life, international, great facilities and all are almost equally appreciated by the students attending these universities.

2.

The University of Sydney, Australia. On many websites ranked as Australia's best architecture school. Based on our research it came up in the top 10 as well with a hugely satisfied student body.

7.

The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. The third great school with excellent programs offered.

3.

The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. This university practically tied the University of Sydney with its amazing programs and an overall great student satisfaction level.

8.

University of Canberra, Australia. Students describe this university as an institution of outstanding atmosphere and a great place to live and learn.

4.

RMIT, Melbourne, Australia. Another hugely popular university in Australia. The campus is in a great location and the school has a good variety of courses on offer.

9.

University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. A great university with a wide range of courses and good student satisfaction.

5.

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. Among the oldest universities in New Zealand with a strong focus on research.

10.

The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Like many other universities this one is ranked high on the list. An overall wonderful academic institute to round off the list of great choices of pursuing an architectural career.

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.

Our 'Top 10' Best Architecture Universities / Schools in Europe.

1.

Architectural Association, AA (London, England) - Remains one of our top favorite architecture school in the world as it demonstrates being a world leader in so many fields of architecture. Notably the best architecture firms around the world have a tendency to pick up these students as soon as they are finished. This is eventually one of the most important aspects of choosing a school, one with which will quickly set you up with a good job, therefore being a very good return on investment.

6.

The Glasgow School of Art (Glasgow, Scotland) - Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a former student and world renowned architect. This schools is definitely one to look at to further deepen your artistic architecture skills. The GSA is the only independant art school in Schotland and one of very few in the UK. The Glasgow school of art offers various undergraduate and graduate degree studies which are among the worlds finest.

2.

The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Copenhagen, Denmark) - Another great University we highly recommend. The Danish have demonstrated a great understanding on 'new' architecture and are becoming the forerunners of the modern world. They teach several programs in English at a cost of €5000 per semester for non-EU students (far less or potentially free with government subsidies for EU students).

7.

Bartlett, University College London (England) - Raked as one of the best universities in England. The Bartlett offers several fantastic programs. They are described as 'world-leading faculty for multidisciplinary education and research for the built environment.' We highly recommend this university for both its education and geographic location. London has a very rich cultural heritage, a place fully develop yourself professionally.

3.

Technical University Delft (Delft, the Netherlands) - is among the very best in the world for both architecture and engineering. With World renowned faculty and several amazing programs to choose from. We have not featured Delft in the past few years after a disaster had struck when a faulty coffee machine caused the school to burn to the ground. The future of the school was uncertain and students were placed in large tents. The Dutch government made it its priority to rebuild as quick as possible, recently completing the new school which is better than ever.

8.

The University of Cambridge (Cambridge, England) - Absolutely one of the World's best Universities in a variety of subjects. An elite university that offers much more than just a good education. The cost of attendance is very reasonable (£9,000 per year for UK/EU students). Unfortunately the cost of attendance / tuition fees are more than double for non-EU countries. There is very limited space available so make sure you apply on time and follow all their guidelines for maximum chance of placement.

4.

ETH Zurich, DARCH (Zurich, Switzerland) - Is one of the best universities for architecture in Europe. It is notable how many of today's great architects have graduated from this university, including Pritzker Prize winning architects Jacques Herzog & Pierre de Meuron, the very well known Santiago Calatrava, the prominent Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and many more. The down side is that there are limited spaces available and very competitive, so a placement cannot be guaranteed.

9.

Ecole de Beaux Arts (Paris, France) - The historically well known Ecole de Beaux Arts, where in both past and present the greatest architects have come to learn and to teach as was known that all great architects would pass through this school at least once in their life.

5.

Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, IaaC (Barcelona, Spain) - Another great architecture institute with a constantly increasing amount of programs including a recently added 'Master in Advanced Interaction' which will be available as of next term. Their Master in Advanced Architecture features, among others, a course in sustainability and self-sufficient design, which can be followed as a one or two year course. This incredible institute is found in one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world, the majestic city of Barcelona.

10.

The Gerrit Rietveld Academie (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) - This institute provides a fascinating four year bachelor program. With a focus on arts and design set up by famous Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld, a passionate architects in all fields of design and art.

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.

North America - Best Architecture Programs

(LA, California, USA) SCI-arc - Southern California Institute of Architecture - A truly amazing Architecture institute that provides a great opportunity to develop yourself as a well rounded architect.

6.

The University of Michigan, ranked as one of the highest undergraduate schools in the United States. An amazing architecture school with a great atmosphere.

2.

(Massachusetts, USA) MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology - This institute has always been a leader in engineering and today is very involved with all facets of architecture, the only negative aspect is the same for most studies in the United States: the cost!

7.

Cornell University, USA. Has a focus on more than just a theoretical understanding of architecture, but provides a glimpse into 'the real world' and practical knowledge to becoming an architect.

3.

Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA. Harvard is perhaps the most famous university in the world known for its prestigious programs in practically every field it teaches.

8.

Cal Poly, California, USA has been known for its great architecture program for several decades. This university is widely loved for both its academics and its student life.

4.

USC, The University of Southern California, USA. Has been known for being one of the worlds leading schools in architectural design.

9.

Yale University, New Haven Connecticut, USA. The Yale School of Art and Architecture is among the world finest and deserves a spot in the top 10 North American Architecture Schools.

5.

Berkeley University, California, USA. A fantastic school in the Bay Area in Northern California. Internationally known as one of the best schools for engineering, Berkley offers a terrific architectural program in an amazing academic environment.

10.

The Pratt Institute, New York, USA. Among the best design schools in the world and especially famous for the arts. At Graduate Architecture we believe that architecture is an art, and unfortunately has often become a dying art. Pratt Institute is well deserving of a top 10 position, in a very difficult list to make of what really is ' the best' architectural study.

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.

South America - Best Architecture Programs

The University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the largest university in South America, with a good amount of architectural programs. The satisfaction level of students is perhaps the largest in South America. Many of today's great architects are heading to Europe and The United States via Argentina.

6.

The University of Caracas, Venezuela. A beautiful campus in the City of Caracas and the fine academic program make this university a top contender for the top spot of South American Architecture schools. The political climate on the other hand might reduce the desire for foreign students to study here, which is a shame.

2.

University of Chile, faculty of Architecture and Urbanism. Has several great programs available. Spanish is a must at this university, but many preparatory courses are available.

7.

The Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Soa Paolo, Brazil. A private University, founded as an American school in 1870, has many internationally acclaimed names as graduates.

3.

The National University of Bogota, Colombia. Colombia has become an increasingly safe country in recent years and has opened itself up to foreigners. With some of the most friendly people and an incredibly good education system at a low cost Bogota is an upcoming International architecture center.

8.

Universidad Tortuato di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina. One of the several fine universities in Buenos Aires, offering international programs in combination with being in a beautiful and international city, making it a very desirable choice of study location.

4.

The Federal University of Rio de Jainero, Brazil, is one of the largest federal universities of Brazil, where public universities comprise the majority of the best and most qualified institutions.

9.

Pontificia Universidad Javieria, Bogota, Colombia. Another great university in Bogota, adding to Colombia's growing popularity, showing that its one of the key players in the architectural world.

5.

Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (UNI), Lima, Peru. As most South American Schools this too is a public university and provides some of the best quality education for almost no cost. Especially these days when the economy is not doing as well and job security is not guaranteed, it is a very reasonable idea to study in countries with cheap education and a rich cultural heritage.

10.

The Catholic University of Chile is among the best in South America. Student satisfaction is one of the highest so far. Students have expressed an exceptional liking towards the programs offered, the faculty and ca

* Rank based on several factors, with a main focus on student satisfaction and job potential. Please note that this list is subject to change. We have not completed the entire research and therefore this information is based on the statistics we have received so far.